Public Hanukkah celebration set for Sunday in Paso Robles
Event includes menorah lighting, music, and activities
– Chabad of Paso Robles will host a public Hanukkah celebration and light a 9-foot menorah at Downtown City Park on Dec. 14, the first night of Hanukkah. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
The celebration will include a menorah lighting, live music, a live painter, and activities for all ages. The Paso Robles Fire Department will participate in a Gelt-Drop. Hot soup and Hanukkah treats will be available.
“Hanukkah teaches that even a small light has the power to push away great darkness,” said Rabbi Meir Gordon, director of Chabad of Paso Robles. “This year, many are seeking strength and connection, and the menorah reminds us to bring gratitude to G-d and to illuminate our surroundings with goodness.”
A menorah lighting is also planned at Del Mar Park in Morro Bay on Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m.
The public menorahs are part of a global Hanukkah campaign established in 1973 by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson to increase awareness and observance of Hanukkah. The campaign includes public menorah lightings, distributing menorahs for personal use, hosting car-menorah parades, and organizing activities for people of all ages.
Chabad-Lubavitch’s Hanukkah campaign distributes millions of menorahs worldwide and erects thousands of public menorahs each year. More than 15,000 large public menorahs will be displayed this year at locations including the White House, the Eiffel Tower, the St. Louis Arch, and the Great Wall of China.
“This year’s Hanukkah celebrations carry added significance as America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding,” said Rabbi Meir. “The Rebbe taught that the menorah is a universal symbol of liberty. As America approaches 250 years, the celebration of Hanukkah highlights the G-d-endowed freedom at the heart of our nation’s values.”
